Transitioning into menopause can be a turbulent time for some women. Your hormone levels drop quickly, which causes your period to slow to a stop, and some other not-so-fun symptoms (hello, hot flashes) to set in.
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But those changes may also affect the chemicals in your brain, and in turn, your mood.
The changes in hormone levels that happen in your body during perimenopause and menopause may cause you to sometimes feel anxious or depressed, says psychiatrist Lilian Gonsalves, MD. But severe and ongoing panic, anxiety and depression are not the norm.
Here, Dr. Gonsalves answers some questions about the mental and emotional aspects of menopause and how you can overcome these challenges.
Q: Is it normal to feel anxious as menopause sets in?
A: The fluctuation of estrogen and another key hormone, progesterone, in your body can cause feelings of anxiety or depression. But frequent, troubling high anxiety or panic attacks are not a normal part of menopause. Some women develop a panic disorder during menopause.
Q: Does having panic attacks mean you have panic disorder?
A: Not necessarily. Those with panic disorder have frequent panic attacks. And, in between, they worry about when the next one will strike and try to adjust their behavior to head it off. But a single or a few isolated panic attacks don’t mean you have a panic disorder.
Women who were prone to anxiety in the past or who had postpartum depression are sometimes more likely to have a panic disorder during menopause. But any woman can develop one.
Panic disorders can be hard to identify because some symptoms, such as sweating and palpitations, mirror those that many women experience anyway during perimenopause and menopause. But, just because a panic disorder is not easily diagnosed, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist or that you can’t treat it.
Q: Is there a link between menopause and depression?
A: Changes in hormone levels may influence neurotransmitters in the brain. The drop in estrogen levels can also lead to hot flashes that disturb sleep, which can then lead to anxiety and mood swings.
If you experience symptoms of depression nearly every day for two or more weeks, you might be depressed. Talk with your doctor about finding a treatment that will work for you. Your doctor will also want to rule out any medical causes for your depression, such as thyroid problems.
Q: How do I know when to seek help for emotional problems during menopause?
A: When depression or anxiety causes difficulties in your relationships or at work, and there isn’t a clear solution to these problems, it’s probably time to see your doctor. More specific reasons to seek help include:
- You have suicidal thoughts or feelings.
- Your negative feelings last more than two weeks.
- You don’t have anyone in whom you can confide. If you don’t have anyone to share your thoughts with, it’s hard to know if what you’re thinking makes sense. A good therapist will offer invaluable perspective on the issues most important to you.
Q: Can hormone therapy ease my emotional problems during menopause?
A: While there’s growing evidence that hormone therapy can help with emotional symptoms, it alone is not effective in treating more severe mental health conditions. Your doctor my prescribe medication for anxiety or depression. Counseling also helps treat the psychological symptoms.
You may feel better after menopause ends and your hormones level out. But talk to your doctor as soon as possible to start the right treatments.
Q: Is there anything else I can do to cope with emotional concerns during this phase of my life?
A: A healthy lifestyle can help ease the menopause transition, including the following steps:
- Exercise and eat healthy.
- Engage in a creative outlet or hobby that gives you a sense of achievement.
- Turn to friends, family members or a professional counselor for support. Stay connected with your family and community. Nurture your friendships.
- Take medicines, vitamins and minerals as prescribed by your doctor.
Q: Are problems with memory and concentration a normal part of menopause?
A: Unfortunately, trouble concentrating and minor memory problems can be a normal part of menopause. Experts don’t understand exactly why this happens, but if you are having them, talk to your doctor. They can at least provide some reassurance.
Activities that stimulate your brain can also help rejuvenate your memory, so spend some time with crossword puzzles or cozy up with a book. Keep in mind that depression and anxiety may make memory concerns more noticeable.
FAQs
A: The fluctuation of estrogen and another key hormone, progesterone, in your body can cause feelings of anxiety or depression. But frequent, troubling high anxiety or panic attacks are not a normal part of menopause. Some women develop a panic disorder during menopause.
Can menopause cause anxiety and panic attacks? ›
Changes in hormone levels, life changes, and sleep disturbances during menopause can cause anxiety. In addition to generalized anxiety, people may also experience sudden, intense panic attacks. People can often manage these symptoms with lifestyle changes, medications, and psychotherapy.
What is the best thing for menopause anxiety? ›
How to ease mood changes
- get plenty of rest.
- exercise regularly.
- do relaxing activities.
They're prescribed at lower dosages, and they have different effects (more on that shortly). The only SSRI or SNRI currently FDA-approved for menopause treatment is paroxetine (brand name Brisdelle). Many similar medications, however, are prescribed by doctors on an “off-label” basis for menopause treatment.
How to deal with anxiety and depression during menopause? ›
Along with lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly, Faubion says, some of the go-to treatments for menopause anxiety and depression are: Antidepressants.
Does menopause anxiety ever go away? ›
Anxiety that starts during the menopausal transition will typically resolve itself once your hormones stabilize as you enter menopause. It is still important to seek help if your anxiety is strong because anxiety is treatable. There is no need to suffer for the length of your menopausal transition.
Can menopause cause a mental breakdown? ›
Menopausal transition is highly symptomatic in at least 20% of women. A higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, has been shown in women with symptomatic menopausal transition.
What is the best vitamin for menopause anxiety? ›
Research has shown vitamin E helps ease stress, reduces oxidative stress, and may help reduce your risk of depression. To increase vitamin E during and after menopause, take a vitamin E supplement and add foods rich in vitamin E to your diet. Aim for at least 15 mg daily.
What is the best mood stabilizer for menopause? ›
What is the best antidepressant for menopause? Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate) is a low-dose SSRI. It's currently the only antidepressant that's FDA-approved for VMS due to menopause. Research shows Brisdelle can improve the frequency and severity of VMS.
Do antidepressants work for menopause anxiety? ›
For some women, these medications can help to reduce these symptoms, but they are not usually effective in helping their mood related changes or other menopausal symptoms such as vagin*l dryness, headaches and joint pains as these are due to fluctuating or lowered levels of estrogen and testosterone.
The good news is that some studies (study links, a and b) have identified how magnesium may ease certain symptoms of stress and anxiety. Here are the facts: Magnesium may help to control the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain, resulting in a calming effect on the body.
What are the worse symptoms of menopause? ›
Physical symptoms
difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and make you feel tired and irritable during the day. palpitations, when your heartbeats suddenly become more noticeable. headaches and migraines that are worse than usual. muscle aches and joint pains.
Why do I feel sick all the time during menopause? ›
This could very well be explained by the numerous symptoms of menopause which causes stress and anxiety to women which then produces the stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol then travels through your bloodstream causing discomfort in your digestive system which will in turn make you feel sick.
What is menopause psychosis? ›
Therefore, sudden estrogen decline may increase D2 receptor activation leading to the development of positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions and induce psychotic states (Fisher et al., 2022).
What hormone causes panic attacks? ›
A new study has linked panic disorder to a wayward hormone in a brain circuit that regulates vigilance. While too little of the hormone, called orexin, is known to underlie narcolepsy, the new finding suggests that too much of it may lead to panic attacks.
Can menopause cause overthinking? ›
But in perimenopause and menopause, this can go to the extreme, so we can be completely caught up in our thoughts. We can overthink, which can make anxiety worse. I had someone contact me not long ago who was in this exact situation, and she was getting so anxious because this wasn't her normal self.
What does menopause feel like when you are jittery? ›
What does it feel like? Internal vibrations can feel like a buzzing, vibrating, shaking or quivering. Some women describe the sensation as feeling like a phone or bees are buzzing inside them. The sensation is not debilitating but it can be unnerving and act as a distraction from everyday life.
